Benchmark research · Meta Platforms
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed META (Meta Platforms)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of META (Meta Platforms, Inc.), we screened META against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against META live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top META: Across a screen of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, only 25 of 958 eligible ETFs, or 2.6%, and 205 of 1,501 eligible stocks, or 14%, outperformed META in a majority of the short-term and long-term periods. Just 6 ETFs and 52 stocks were all-weather, outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. That made META a difficult benchmark for ETFs in particular.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: VGT, AAPL, and XLK qualified. VGT outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods, while AAPL and XLK each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. MSFT and QQQ fell short, each with 4 of 5 short-term but just 1 of 3 long-term periods.
- Top ETFs: Technology funds led the table, with 8 of the top ETFs in that category. RSPT, IYW, VGT, and FTEC each outperformed in all 3 long-term periods and at least 4 of 5 short-term periods. In all, 25 ETFs qualified.
- Top stocks: A total of 205 stocks qualified. The leaders included healthcare names NTRA, MEDP, and CORT, along with BWLP from Industrials. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, all 15 top ETFs shown in the table had lower volatility than META and higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of return relative to risk. The top 10 stocks shown were bumpier overall: 4 of 10 had lower volatility, while all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios than META.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against META, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| META Meta Platforms, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −6.3% | +7.6% | +3.7% | +7.0% | −4.9% | +127% | +106% | +439% | 45.4% | 0.55 |
| VGT Made the listVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%0.6× META | 0.78 |
| AAPL Made the listApple Inc. | 4/5 short2/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0%0.6× META | 0.75 |
| XLK Made the listState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%0.6× META | 0.82 |
| MSFT Fell shortMicrosoft Corporation | 5/5 short1/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2%0.6× META | 0.56 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 4/5 short1/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%0.5× META | 0.71 |
| AMZN Fell shortAmazon.com, Inc. | 4/5 short1/3 long | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6%0.8× META | 0.42 |
| VOO Fell shortVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9%0.4× META | 0.80 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short0/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%0.4× META | 0.79 |
| FDN Fell shortFirst Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund | 4/5 short0/3 long | −3.1% | +6.4% | +9.1% | +8.4% | +1.8% | +85.3% | +16.1% | +256% | 27.6%0.6× META | 0.25 |
| VB Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 3/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | −1.8% | +1.3% | +11.2% | +13.7% | +66.8% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6%0.5× META | 0.40 |
| SNAP Fell shortSnap Inc. | 3/5 short0/3 long | +11.9% | +39.9% | +6.3% | −21.5% | −17.5% | −32.4% | −91.6% | — | 76.2%1.7× META | -0.26 |
| PINS Fell shortPinterest, Inc. | 2/5 short0/3 long | +18.7% | +0.7% | +11.3% | −13.5% | −30.2% | −11.5% | −63.3% | — | 55.6%1.2× META | -0.08 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed META
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed META in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | META Meta Platforms, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −6.3% | +7.6% | +3.7% | +7.0% | −4.9% | +127% | +106% | +439% | 45.4% | 0.55 | ||
| 1 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%0.6× META | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 2 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%0.6× META | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 3 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%0.6× META | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 4 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%0.6× META | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 5 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%0.6× META | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 6 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%0.5× META | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 7 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%0.8× META | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 8 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9%0.9× META | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 9 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8%0.9× META | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 10 | XSD TechnologyState Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.0% | −5.8% | +11.5% | +40.9% | +35.0% | +166% | +132% | +857% | 40.8%0.9× META | 0.62 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| 11 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3%0.6× META | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 12 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%0.6× META | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 13 | SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.7% | −1.6% | +11.6% | +19.3% | +18.1% | +156% | +136% | +499% | 20.8%0.5× META | 0.93 | 0.13% | $22B |
| 14 | GREK InternationalGlobal X - MSCI Greece ETF | 5/5 short2/3 long | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6%0.5× META | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |
| 15 | EPOL Broad MarketiShares MSCI Poland ETF | 5/5 short2/3 long | −3.2% | +9.3% | +10.4% | +22.9% | +37.4% | +173% | +123% | +226% | 29.1%0.6× META | 0.70 | 0.59% | $1.0B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed META
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | META Meta Platforms, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −6.3% | +7.6% | +3.7% | +7.0% | −4.9% | +127% | +106% | +439% | 45.4% | 0.55 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%1.3× META | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | BWLP Marine ShippingBW LPG Limited | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −1.7% | +22.6% | +44.0% | +117% | +136% | +230% | +958% | +2,672% | 50.9%1.1× META | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| 3 | MEDP Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchMedpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.3% | +17.9% | +17.8% | +9.0% | +14.3% | +172% | +231% | +1,914% | 52.0%1.1× META | 0.70 | $17B |
| 4 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%1.7× META | 0.81 | $13B |
| 5 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%0.8× META | 1.10 | $14B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%0.7× META | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | CLMT Chemicals - SpecialtyCalumet Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.6% | +29.0% | +74.8% | +187% | +198% | +235% | +427% | +1,319% | 56.5%1.2× META | 0.87 | $4.9B |
| 8 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%1.0× META | 0.71 | $30B |
| 9 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%0.9× META | 0.79 | $14B |
| 10 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7%1.1× META | 1.10 | $11B |
What stands out
Technology funds were well represented among the ETF leaders, while the top stocks came from a wider mix of sectors, including Healthcare, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Energy, Materials, and Consumer Discretionary. That breadth suggests the stock results were not confined to one theme. The leaders also held up over the longer periods: RSPT, IYW, VGT, and FTEC outperformed in all 3 long-term periods, as did the leading stocks NTRA, BWLP, MEDP, and CORT.
The risk figures show a different ride for funds and individual stocks. Over 5 years, the top ETFs had a median volatility of 26.5%, below META's 45.4%, and a median Sharpe ratio of 0.79 versus 0.55 for META. The top stocks had a higher median volatility of 50.3%, but their median Sharpe ratio was also higher at 0.84. These results describe the periods measured, and past performance is not a guide to what comes next.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than META's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of META's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.